Aircraft



G. F. MYERS Oct. 3, 1933.

AIRCRAFT Filed March 13, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l avwenboz G. F. MYERSAIRCRAFT Filed March 13, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 avwemtoz G. F'. MYERSOct. 3. 1933.

AI RCRAFT Filed March 13, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Zavwemtoz Patented Oct.3, I933 unireo, STATES PATENT OFFICE George Francis Myers, JacksonHeights, Y. Application March 13, 1929. Serial No: 346,531

g I zi' ciaime. Myinvention relates to'irnprovements aircraft and moreparticularly has reference to and is illustrated in theaccornpanyingdrawings in its application to the anchoring or controlling j; of'adirigible preferably at sea, or upon water,.

though it will'be readily understood that the same applies tov controlof the same upon land.

Referring to said drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates in side elevation, asuitable form of dirigible, held substantially stationary over a body ofwater. Fig. 2 illustrates part of said dirigible under con trol fromthesurface of the water in a slightly difierent position, Figs. 3 and 4illustrate in side elevation and plan views respectively, modified fijcontrols of the dirigible. Fig. 5 illustrates upon an enlarged scale, anendview of the nacelle, and, suspension means. Fig. 6 is a sideelevation, looking from left to right at Fig. 5, with the air 'pro-'peller anden'gine added, and Fig. 7 isan en- 7 1 larged detail of partof the winch and cable mech-v According to the preferred embodiment ofmy invention, the nacelle car fuselage, receptacle, or the like orpowrplant, as a unit, is removably H attached to-the frame work r thedirigible by, any suitable as brackets8, 9, the frame or housing' of thenacelle being preferably substant ially-boatshaped, as indicated at 10,the upwardly extending lugs 11 therein, being perfo rated transverselyto' receive bolts also passing through transverse holes inithestirrupends 12 ofithe brackets 8, 9. A suitable, form of block mu tackle 13,maybe, employed;for raising: and lowering the nacelle, andto aid in,releasing and i applying the bolts the same to the hrackets 8, 9. Forthis a suitable winch devicel3 may be setin motion bythe engine 14 onthe nacelle, the 1106x 14", at the free end of the cable, being adaptedto engage the pin -15ofthewinchasshown;..f

These nacelles are preferably carried fore'and aft beneath thedirigibleJas indicated at 16,- 17. 18,v 19' indicate cables securedatthe bow and stern of the dirigible and alsoto the nacelles' as shownfor controlling the dirigiblevWhen'the nacelles are attached to thedirigible, and "are in their proper places for the purposes of flight,the

1 vvslack of, these cables is taken up by suitable winches on board themicelles, and substantially renew the outline of the tangi le, Whenlowering the nacelles, these cables are slacked up or paid out theproper distance, for the desired control.

1 20 indicates the propellers, which may be of number or design.desirable, for each nacelle and, 21 indicates, water propellers alsosired. While in this position, the dirigible is anmounted thereon, anyof which may be driven from theengine'ld in any well known manner.

22 indicates the marine rudder and 23, a suitable removable housingaround the marine propeller and rudder, to be used when the same is inflight to conform to suitable stream lines and reduce resistances. 24indicates port'holes which may be controlled from within the nacelle, sothat, when upon the water, enough water or ballast may beadmitt'ed foradding the necessaryweight'for controlling the din'giblc. When thenacelle isto be returned to the dirig'ible, this water is of course,pumped out to lighten the same, after which the nacelle is drawn upbeneath the dirigible for flight purposes; a The cable 19, on the bow ofthe dirigible, is preferably connected at the stern of the forwardnacelle 17;, while the cable 18, at the sternof the dirigible, ispreferably connected at the bow of the nacelle 16, so that, whendowninthe position shown in Figs. 1 to-d'inclusi've, bydrawing-up on the lines'18; ,19, the nacelles can, if suiliciently chored re'r'e end aft atwide'ly separated points by 0 the two nacelles asshown' in Figs. 3 and4, and is I held substantially istationary, even though the bow, orpreferably the stern of theQd-irigible, may swing slightly Lone wayorthe other, according to the shitting-winds, and of course, a greateramount of waterfcan be'let into'the forward nacelle llifdesiredftomaintain the bow point of anchorage," morestationary of the two asshown. Each of these nac elles being provided with La propeller andrudder, are at all times, under complete control, and,- properlyweighted, will-serve to safely maneuvre or control the dirigihlefor-Fall necessary purposes When fiightis desired, the nacelles maybereturned to thepositionsshown in outline in Fig. 1, by operating theproper winches on board thesaine and made fast for air navigation. ,Inthemanagement of the nacelle s, the jsundension cables 25 my paid out,so as to always be in connection therewith, as may be found desirable.

As my invention is in some of its aspects generic I do not limit myselfto the particular construction shown and described, but also contemplatethe employment of such equivalents as fairly fall within the scope ofthe claims.

In this connection it may be stated as aforesaid that the dirigible maybe anchored and con,

trolled when over the land as well as over thesea; in this case thenacelle or car or fuselage or re ceptacle or the like may have wheelsattached as in ordinary automobile or tractor practice.

Therefore it should be understood that different modifications andimprovements may be created,. that various changes may be madein'theform; I proportion, size and detail of the several structuresshown, that the number and position of certain elements may be varied,and that the character of the flying machine may be altered withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. Iclaim; a -l. The method ofanchoring a dirigible while in the air, consisting in lowering a pair ofnacelles to the earth by hoisting cables running 'substan.- tiallyvertically, detaching the cables, andplanting one nacelle forward of thedirigible with its tethering cable, attached obliquely, and theses- 0ndnacelle with its tetheringlcablealso attached obliquely in theoppositedirection from the said first mentioned cable, 7 I

, 2. A method of, anchoring a dirigible while the same i s intheair,consisting in holding the dirigible between two man carrying, powerdriven,

dirigible machines on theearth, ballastingone 'ofthe machines, and:moving the other from and aft of the dirigible till theirtetheringcables are taut, ballasting the forward nacelle to act as I apivot, and maneuvering the. after nacelle back and forth transversely asthe dirigible swings to portorstarboard II ,5. In combination, adirigible, .a nacelle detachable from the dirigible, meansfonloweringthe nacelle, to the earth, and other independent teth ering meansattachedto-both 'the dirigible'an'd nacelle for anchoring thedirigiblebyIthe' nacelle. 6. In combination, adirigible, ai'nacelle detach: ablefrom the dirigible, meansfor lowering the nacelle'to the earth, andindependent, tethering means attachedto both the di'rigibleand nacelledisconnected from the said lowering rneans for anchoring the dirigiblebythe nacelle. I

7. In combination, a dirigible,a nacelle detachable from the dirigible'and mounted betweenthe nose and tail of the'dirigible, meansfor'lowering the nacelle to theearth, and'indep'endent -tether-' ingmeans ,attached'fto. both'the 'dirigible and nacelle mounted'adj acentthe nose of ,thedirigibleI V8. in combination, a dirigible', anacelledetachable; from ,the-dirigible, means for loweringthe nacelletothe earth, andindependent tethering meansattached to both thedirigible and nacelle mounted adjacent theta'il of thedirigible.

9. In combination, a dirigible, a plurality of nacelles detachable fromthe dirigible, means for lowering the nacelles from the dirigible, andindependent tethering means attached to both the dirigible and nacellemounted adjacent both the nose and the tail of the dirigible.

10. In combination, a dirigible, a nacelle, a hoisting cable, and anindependent tethering cable attached to both the dirigible and nacelle.

11'. In combination, a dirigible, a nacelle, hoisting cables whose pointof attachment is amidships the dirigible, and a tethering cable attachedto both the dirigible and nacelle whose point of attachment is adjacentthe nose of the same.

I 12. In combination, a dirigible, a nacelle, a hoisting cable whosepoint of attachment is adjacentjthemidship portion of the dirigible, anda tethering cable attached to both the dirigible and nacelle whose pointof attachment is adjacent to the tail of the dirigible. I

. 13. In combination, a dirigible, nacelles, hoisting cables mounted onthe ,dirigible amidships thereof, and a pair of tethering cablesattached to both the dirigible and nacelle mountedadjacent both the noseand the tail of the dirigible and connected to the nacelles.

I '14. Incombination, a dirigible, a plurality of nacelles detachablefrom the dirigible, cables for lowering the nacelles'to the earth, andindependent anchoring cables one thereof being attached to the nose ofthe dirigible and the tail of one nacelle, and another anchoring cablebeing attached to the tail of the diri'gible andjto" the nose of anothernacelle; I I 15. In combination, a dirigible, a plurality of nacellesdetachablef rom'the dirigible, cables for lowering the nacellesfto theearth, and independent anchoring cables one thereof being attached tothe nose and the other 'to the tail of the dirigible, and the otherendsof the anchor ing cables being attached to the rear parts of thenacelles. I j V 16. In combination, a dirigible, a nacelle,hoisting'cables for lowering and bringing back the nacelle from and tothe dirigible, and a plurality of members on the nacelle atsubstantially the four corners thereof registering with an equal numberof holding members on the dirigible, and means for fastening the firstand second mentionedmembers together. I

17.1 In combination, a dirigible, a nacelle, a hoisting cable,atethering cable attached to both the dirigible andfnacelle, and meanson the nacelle. for permitting water to fill the hull thereof to actasa. centering point for the dirigi ble when the same drifts'away thelength of the cableftow and the same becomes taut.

I 18. A method of anchoring a dirigible while the same is in the air'andover the water, consist- .ing in holding the dirigible between two mancarrying power driven'dirigible boats on the water, balla's'tin'g one ofthe boats, and moving the other boat from place. to place transverselytothe direction of the wind as the dirigible swings to port vor starboard.

19."A' method of in holding the dirigible between two man carrying powerdriven dirigibleboats; on the water, and pullingawayby'theboats from thedirigible in a line longitudinally "thereto and" at af distancetherefrom. I I I '1 20; Amethod ofanchoringa'dirigible while the same isin the air and overthe l water the dirigible fhaving'a pair ofreleasably "attached boats memlbO I anchoring a dirigible while the sameis in the air and over the water, consisting on, consisting in loweringthe boats to the water, spreading the boats fore and aft of thedirigible till their tethering cables are taut, ballasting the forwardboat to act as a pivot, and-maneuvering the after boat back and forthtransversely as the dirigible swings to port or starboard. r

21. The method of maneuvering a dirigible while in the air and over thewater, consisting in lowering a boat from the dirigible to the water,opening ports in the body of the boat, permitting water to flow into thehull of the same, maneuvering the boat as a pivot to the dirigible,lowering another boat from the dirigible to the water,

maneuvering the same back and forth transaxial trim and unnecessarymovement of the ship may be controlled by the crew. i

23. In combination with a dirigible, of an anchorage therefor, and meansfor turning the dirigible on a pivot exterior to the same through threehundred and sixty degrees as well as changing the position of the pivotlongitudinally.

24. In combination with a dirigible, of an anchorage therefor, means forturning the dirigible on a pivot exterior to the same through threehundred and sixty degrees, and means for changing the position of thepivot longitudinally.

25. Incombination with a dirigible, of a floating anchorage therefor,means on the anchorage for submerging the same, other means on theanchorage for changing the position of the same longitudinally, andmeans comprising a second floating anchorage for turning the dirigibleon the first mentioned anchorage as a pivot through three hundred andsixty degrees.

' 26. In combination with a dirigible, of an anchorage-pivot adjacentthe front thereof, means secured to said dirigible adjacent the reartherethree hundred and sixty degrees, means for moving the anchoragelongitudinally, and means for holding the rear end of the dirigible at alower elevation than the front end.

27. In combination with a dirigible,of afloating anchorage pivotadjacent the front thereof,

means comprising a second floating anchorage seowed to the saiddirigible adjacent the rear thereof for turning the dirigible on saidpivot through three hundred and sixty degrees, means for moving thefirst mentioned anchorage longitudinally, and means comprising a cablefor holding the 'o'f'for turning the dirigible on said pivot through Vrear end of the dirigible at a lower elevation than the front end.

GEORGE FRANCIS MYERS.

